Cuba

Visiting Cuba takes a giant leap back in time. A punch of nostalgia hits before the first day in the country ends. And it's more than the 50s cars and the crumbling architecture, it's the entire vibe. Although Old Town Havana is among the prettiest places I've wandered in these years of traveling, I found Trinidad just as lovely but entirely different.

The locals live outside. They chat in their tall street-side windows. They hang from cafe balconies. They stroll the Malecón.

And at night, they dance. The country was alive with music and life. Vibrant colors wared with vibrant Spanish-colonial cityscapes. It's a place you have to visit soon, as the 2016 lift on the embargo will surely change the course of this country for years to come. If you're an American, flights are now easy and visas too. If you're traveling from elsewhere in the world — there's a lot you're going to love visiting.